What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have recently been involved in?    

From 2023 through the first quarter of 2024, our M&A activities were particularly dynamic. During this period, Cignal TV sought to acquire of the TV business and broadband services of a nationwide cable TV. While this specific deal did not reach completion, our team dedicated substantial effort to due diligence and documentation.  

We were persistent, and the company continued diversifying its content distribution platforms. Last year, we launched our second streaming application, exclusively dedicated to sports content, catering to sports enthusiasts in the Philippines – an unprecedented initiative in the country. The platform is available for download both locally and internationally in select territories. 

Technology projects of this scale are intricate, involving numerous stakeholders such as platform owners, hosting providers, and content providers. We are proud of our team’s role in facilitating engagement and contracts across the various parties. 

Additionally, there has been significant activity in our content creation business. One noteworthy project involved a co-production partnership that brought back some of the Philippines’ most iconic primetime variety show personalities to Free-To-Air television. Our team played a crucial role in the documentation and negotiation of these deals.  

Which recent political, economic or regulatory changes have impacted your work the most in recent years?   

The recent enactment of Republic Act No. 11996 (or Act Protecting the Welfare of Workers in the Movie and Television Industry), aimed at safeguarding the welfare of workers is viewed by many as transformative within the industry. This legislation directly affects content creation and production, which is one of our company’s core business verticals. As a result, we anticipate an increase in compliance responsibilities within the legal department. Existing policies and norms will require realignment and a reorientation of management practices. 

How do you motivate and manage your legal team well?  

Communication and collaboration are crucial ingredients for the success of our department. Unlike others where individual offices are reserved solely for department heads, I share my working space with the entire team. We work together in one room, without regard to rank or position. This setup fosters open communication and collaboration, and I believe it is optimal. It allows for spontaneous peer reviews and real-time discussions, enabling us to deliberate on issues from various perspectives and make faster decisions, with minimal bureaucracy. After nearly a year of implementing this approach, we have seen improvements in efficiency, productivity, and turnaround times.